92 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



excellent quality and very useful. The tallest tree recorded in 

 Britain is at Murthly, 50 ft. high and 1 ft. 9 in. in girth ; a 

 second in Ireland, at Woodstock, 50 ft. high ; the next at 

 Brahan, Eoss-shire, 45 ft. high and 2 ft. 8 in. in circumference ; 

 and the fourth at Powerscourt, 40 ft. high and 4 ft. in girth. 

 The tallest in England are at Eevesby, 40 ft. high and 2 ft. 6 in. 

 in girth ; Orton Longueville, 40 ft. high ; and at Cheswardine, 

 Shropshire, 40 ft. high. 



Finns. — Many species of the Pine tribe have been introduced 

 to Britain ; but, on the whole, they have not proved so valuable 

 with us, either as ornamental or timber trees, as those of the 

 Fir, Spruce, and Cypress tribes, although a few are notable ex- 

 ceptions to the general rule, and are found to be most useful 

 trees for certain situations, soils, and purposes. We may, 

 therefore, deal with them shortly, noticing only the most useful. 



Finns attstriaca* is a capital wind-break, but a coarse timber 

 tree of indifferent quality, and too sombre to be a favourite orna- 

 mental tree where better kinds will grow. The finest tree 

 recorded in the tables is at Linton Park, 74 ft. high and 8 ft. 

 in girth. The tallest in Scotland, at Whittinghame, 51 ft. 6 in. 

 and 6 ft. 9 in. in girth ; and in Ireland, 55 ft. high and 11 ft. 

 9 in. in girth, at Shane's Castle. 



Finns Cembra is one of the most distinct species of Pine, 

 and from its compact columnar habit it is a very useful 

 ornamental tree. It is too slow-growing in this country to 

 make a useful forest tree. The finest tree recorded of this 

 species is also at Linton Park, 68 ft. 6 in. high, with a girth of 

 5 ft. In Scotland, it is 55 ft. high and 7 ft. in girth at Aber- 

 cairney, Perthshire ; and at Balmoral, at an altitude of over 

 900 ft., it has attained a height of 42 ft., with a girth of 

 4 ft. 1 in., growing with vigour and forming a distinct and 

 pleasing feature in the Royal pleasure-grounds. The finest 

 in Ireland is at Garbally, Galway, 50 ft. high and 6 ft. 8 in. in 

 girth. 



Finns excelsa, from the North of India, thrives fairly well 

 in favoured sites, and is then a very ornamental tree ; but in 

 exposed places it soon becomes ragged and unsightly. It grows 

 and forms wood moderately fast, but it is of little value in 

 this country as a timber tree. The tallest recorded is at Studley 



* Now botanically kno^Yn as P. Laricio nigricans. Vide p. 232. 



